Belonging
“People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is too such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.. And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.”
Mark 10:13-16
In reading Scripture, I often engage one of the gifts I believe God has given to each of us. Unfortunately, as adults, we have allowed this gift to get rusty. To our detriment, it is not until we have been invited into the world of a child that we realize its power. Filled with unending possibilities, the gift of imagination provides us with a visualization of what could be. When we utilize this gift, it is like having a movie theatre in our own minds. It gives us a chance to escape the world as we know it and see things as they should be.
In this morning’s lesson, we know that Jesus Himself has been traveling through the Palestinian countryside. With our imaginations, we envision Jesus preaching, teaching and healing. Many have been struck by His various acts and are drawn to His authenticity. Soon, He is surrounded by a multitude of curious adults and children. His disciples, seeing the gathering crowds, attempt to take control and surround Jesus with the adults. Unfortunately, in the culture of the day, children were not looked upon favorably. Often they would be relegated to the fringes. Cast aside and put in their place, this clearly does not sit well with Jesus. In His indignation, He literally makes room for them by parting the group of adults like Moses parted the Red Sea. As the children take their rightful place, Jesus then picks them up, lays His hands on them and blesses them.
The image I get of Jesus doing this is the essence of the Gospel. By recognizing and making room for the marginalized, Jesus personally welcomes them into His midst. This act of acceptance is profound. He is essentially telling and showing them that they belong to Him. This sense of belonging is foundational to who we are as human beings.
And yet, at times, it is hard to see ourselves as acceptable. Often, we see ourselves through the eyes of others. Whether in the past or even in the present, we have been made to feel left out and alone. Like the little children, there have been times when we have been made to feel marginalized and cast aside while being told we don’t belong. And what Jesus is reminding us today is that this couldn’t be further from the truth. He wants us to know that, no matter what the world says, we are His and we belong to Him.
“I am my beloved’s, and His desire is for me.”
Song of Solomon 7:10, ESV
